Acute malnutrition is a result of recent (short-term) deficiency of protein, energy together with minerals and vitamins leading to loss of body fats and muscle tissues. Acute malnutrition presents with wasting (low weight-for-height) and /or presence of pitting oedema of both feet.

Screening for Acute Malnutrition should be done at any contact points; children wards, immunization points, community out-reaches, ART sites, young child clinics, counselling units and psycho social groups. Community-based service providers can also perform malnutrition screening provided that they are adequately trained and equipped.

Oedema is the retention of water in the tissues of the body. Bilateral oedema is a sign of kwashiorkor, a form of severe acute malnutrition. Children presenting oedema must be referred to the closest health centre.

To diagnose oedema, normal thumb pressure is applied to the tops of the feet for about three seconds (if you count "one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three" in English, pronouncing the words carefully, this takes about three seconds). If there is oedema, an impression remains for some time (at least a few seconds) where the oedema fluid has been pressed out of the tissue (see below).

The child should only be recorded as oedematous if both feet present pitting oedema. These children are at high risk of mortality and need to be treated in a therapeutic feeding program urgently.

Nutritional oedema always starts from the feet and extends upwards to other parts of the body.

Checking for Oedema

In order to determine the presence of oedema, normal thumb pressure is applied to both feet for three seconds.

Indication of edema – a symptom of malnutritionFor this simple but important test to detect abnormal swelling, the nurse checks for edema by using only her hands and vision. The nurse applies pressure with her thumbs on the feet, the lower legs, and the face of the child to view the severity of the child's edema.

Photo: Geno Teofilo/Oxfam

If a shallow print or pit persists on both feet when the thumbs are lifted, then the child presents oedema. This is the only way to confirm nutritional oedema. You cannot tell by just looking.

Indication of edema – a symptom of malnutrition

When the nurse removes her thumbs, it leaves a pair of depressions on the skin of the child's feet. These depressions indicate a positive test for edema, a symptom of malnutrition.

MUAC is a quick and simple way to determine whether or not a child is malnourished using a simple colored plastic strip. MUAC is suitable to use on children from the age of 12 months up to the age of 59 months. However, it can also be used for children over six months with length above 65 cm.

Steps for taking the MUAC measurement of a child

Determine the mid-point between the elbow and the shoulder (acromion and olecranon) as shown on the picture below.

Place the tape measure around the LEFT arm (the arm should be relaxed and hang down the side of the body).

Measure the MUAC while ensuring that the tape neither pinches the arm nor is left loose.

Read the measurement from the window of the tape or from the tape.

Record the MUAC to the nearest 0.1 cm or 1mm.

If using a 3-colour tape:
a measurement in the green zone means the child is properly nourished;
a measurement in the yellow zone means that the child is at risk of malnutrition;
a measurement in the red zone means that the child is acutely malnourished.

If using a 4-colour tape:
a measurement in the green zone means the child is properly nourished;
a measurement in the yellow zone means that the child is at risk of malnutrition;
a measurement in the orange zone means that the child is moderately malnourished;
a measurement in the red zone means that the child is severely malnourished.

Repeat the measurement two times to ensure an accurate interpretation.